How to get around Yucatán

If you’re taking a 2 week vacation here in Yucatán, the likelihood is that you’ll be travelling around (although you could base yourself in Mérida and just take day trips if you felt like it). Let’s take a look at the transport options:

🚗 Realistically, any road trip is easiest achieved with a rental car. You’ll see the best things with the least amount of hassle. No drive is ever too long because Yucatán squeezes so much wonder into a relatively small area. 

Yucatán’s roads are safe to drive around – the state takes its safety very seriously, in fact it’s the safest state in all of Mexico.

→ Check rental car options

➕ Read the full MexicoCassie guide to renting cars and driving in Yucatán to figure out if taking a road trip around Yucatán is something you’d be comfortable doing.

While you are in cities such as Mérida, Progreso or Valladolid, you can walk, take an Uber, or make use of public transport and travel on the local buses.  

🚂 The Maya train offers an alternative way to explore the Yucatan Peninsula, travelling between the region’s main cities and tourist spots.

👣 Taking guided tours or booking a private driver is a great option for people who aren’t convinced they want to take public transport or drive themselves. I will include recommended tour options for every section of the trip.

🐶 If you’re travelling with your dog, let’s check out how pet friendly Yucatán is, here.

📞 Why not buy an e-sim in advance of your trip to save having to search out a sim-card upon arrival?

2 weeks in Yucatán – an ideal itinerary

Yucatán is the land of the ancient Maya people, whose legacy is evident in their magnificent temples as well as through stories and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. The Maya people have fought hard to preserve their culture, language and cuisine while adapting to the changes brought by the colonization of the Spanish and the establishment of the modern state of Mexico. This is part of what makes it such a joy to explore Yucatán.

Days 1 – 3 Mérida

Mérida is a great place to start your adventure in Yucatán. It is a thriving city with gorgeous colonial architecture, fascinating museums and galleries, market, and great food.

MexicoCassie Mérida hotel recommendations

What to do in Mérida

Begin by taking a walking tour to get yourself acquainted with the city before heading out on your own to explore around centro, the Plaza Grande and Paseo de Montejo. Visit museums, art galleries, markets, gardens and wonderful restaurants as you explore. 

🌮 You could also take this 3 hour walking food tour of Mérida to get to know both the city and the food scene.

Day 1 – Regional art and colonial history in Mérida

Day 2 – Maya history and a walk in the park

✅ Gran Museo del Mundo Maya de Mérida houses an extensive collection of artefacts that follow the ancient Maya civilization from its beginning to its decline (in the north of the city, a cab ride away). 

✅ Museo Regional de Antropología, Palacio Cantón, is a stunning mansion with permanent exhibits of pre-Hispanic Maya artefacts and history, as well as temporary exhibits and workshops (photo above). 

✅ Gran Parque La Plancha is a beautifully designed open space where you can sit and people watch, grab some ice cream in the food court, or enjoy the breeze by the lake. There are often free shows in the amphitheatre at night.

✅ Mercado Lucas de Galvez, Mérida’s main market is a wonderful place to explore, learn about local fruits, veg and spices before heading upstairs or to the streets around the market to pick up souvenirs and eat a cheap, local lunch.

Day 3 – Hacienda experience

Choose from a relaxing hacienda spa experience (first two recommendations below) or an adventure hacienda experience (second two recommendations below)

✅ Hacienda Xcantun – two pools, beautiful grounds, spa, restaurant

✅ Hacienda Santa Cruz – two pools, artificial cenote, temezcal, beautiful grounds, spa, restaurant

✅ Hacienda Sotuta de Peon where you can take a tour around the only remaining working hacienda, learning about the history of Yucatán and its henequen past before enjoying your spa treatments, the incredible pool and traditional on-site restaurant.

✅ Ex-hacienda Mucuyche – a day here includes a swim in the two very famous cenotes, a tour around the ruined hacienda, and use of the shallow pool. There is a casual restaurant on site.

Days 4 – 6 Rio Lagartos & Las Coloradas

Today you drive from Mérida and drive north-east to the coast.

Rio Lagartos is a small fishing village about 3 hours from Mérida. From here, you will be able to explore some of the most stunning natural beauty in the region. 

Las Coloradas is home to the stunning pink lakes you’ve probably seen on Instagram.

Day 4 – Drive to Rio Lagartos

Day 5 – Explore Rio Lagartos and San Felipe

✅ Begin your day with a boat trip through the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve to see flamingos, birds, crocodiles and to take a Mayan clay bath. This is the best way to experience this Unesco World Heritage Site (you can book directly with the guides while you’re in Rio Lagartos). 

✅ Visit the nearby fishing village of San Felipe for freshly caught fish and a delightful stroll around the village. From San Felipe it’s also possible to take a boat trip out to their small beach, to explore the mangroves or even view an ancient Maya island settlement.

Day 6 – Pink lagoon, flamingos and crocodiles

✅ Today’s the day to visit the cool pink salt lakes of Las Coloradas. Las Coloradas can be visited via an organised tour from Rio Lagartos or you can drive out to the tourist centre at Las Colorados and hire a guide. Spend the morning learning about salt production, why the water is pink and enjoying the recently added activities such as their safari tour or bike rental.

✅ After lunch, head back to the village of Rio Lagartos or relax on the beach.

✅ Night crocodile spotting tours can be booked through local tour operators if you are looking for some fun after dark action.

Recommended tours

⭐️ Rio Lagartos boat tour through the estuary and Mayan mud bath experience

⭐️ Pre-book your safari bus around the pink lakes

Days 7-9 Valladolid and Izamal

Valladolid, a ninety-minute drive from Rio Lagartos, is a charming and vibrant colonial city where you will enjoy exploring the colourful streets, visiting great museums, eating in fabulous restaurants and checking out the lovely artisan shops. 

Valladolid is perfectly located in the centre of Yucatán allowing easy access to the incredible nearby archaeological sites and cenotes. From Valladolid, it is also simple to take a day trip to the “Yellow City’ of Izamal, where you can climb a Maya pyramid in the centre of the town and visit a beautiful historic monastery (shockingly built on top of a Maya temple).

It is also conveniently located to hop across the state border to enjoy a little of what Quintana Roo has to offer. 

MexicoCassie Valladolid hotel recommendations

Day 7 – On the road to Valladolid

✅ Leave early from Rio Lagartos to allow time to stop at the gorgeous ancient Mayan ruins of Ek Balam. While this archaeological site is smaller than the more famous Chichén Itzá, it is an extraordinary place where you will see well-preserved stucco facades depicting fierce warriors and elaborate masks. You can climb the steep 106 steps of the high main Acropolis, the pyramid called El Torre, for panoramic views of Yucatán.

✅ Head to the small town of Temozón to experience the famous local barbecue style unique to this part of Yucatán.

✅ Once in Valladolid and settled in your hotel, take a stroll around the gorgeous small city and perhaps visit a museum or two. Good options include: Casa de los Venados, a private home housing over 3000 pieces of Mexican folk art, or Museo San Roque, that showcases the town’s history from Mayan times to the revolution, with artefacts from Ek Balam.

Day 8 – Archaeological site and cenote

✅ Choose whether to visit the world famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and modern wonder of the world, Chichén Itzá, or the equally fabulous jungle ruin of Coba. Both are easily paired with a cenote visit.

Coba

At the Coba archaeological site, located 45 minutes east from Valladolid in the neighbouring state of Quintana Roo, (as of Dec 2025) you can climb, Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid on the Yucatán peninsula as well as explore the rest of this magnificent jungle site on foot, by bike or by bike-taxi.

Coba has an extensive network of sacbes—elevated white limestone causeways—some stretching for over 97km and connecting Coba to other settlements.

Cenote Choo Ha is one of three cenotes close to Coba. It has sturdy steps leading into the cool underground cave, which has shallow and deep areas to enjoy. It is one of my favourite cenotes.

Chichen Itzá

Chichén Itzá is located some 45 minutes west from Valladolid near the small town of Piste. While you can’t climb the structures here, the site is incredible to experience from the moment you enter and see Kukulkan (El Castillo in Spanish) the main pyramid. Don’t miss the ball courts or the observatory and be sure to find the ancient cenotes where human sacrifices were made.

There are dozens of cenotes near Chichén Itzá that you can visit including Ik Kil, Cenote Suytun and more.

Once you’re back in Valladolid, don’t miss the evening sound and light show that takes places every evening (except Mon and Tues) on the monastery walls.

Day – 9 Izamal

Spend day 9 in the gorgeous town of Izamal, a “Pueblo Magico” that is sometimes also called the Yellow City or the “City of Three Cultures.”

This city has been continuously occupied for 2,000 years, and you will find that the Mayan language and traditions are still alive in this fascinating yellow city as well over 80 Maya structures.

✅ Most people begin their visit to Izamal at the Monastery of San Antonio de Padua – built in the 16th century over the Maya temple P’pap Hol Chak to the sun god, Kinich Ahau. You can climb to the top for incredible views and enjoy the peaceful grounds. The monastery features an open atrium that’s second in size only to the Vatican.

✅ Kinich Kakmó is the largest pyramid in Izamal and the highest in Yucatán. It is free to enter and you can climb right to the top for some breathtaking views.

✅ Itzamatul, Izamal’s second-largest pyramid, is very close to and gives you a great view of the Kinich Kakmó pyramid from the top. This gives you some idea of how vast the Maya city of Izamal was before colonization.

✅ Smaller pyramids and structures can be found around the city centre. These include the Tu’ul, nicknamed “The Rabbit,” Habuk, and Kabul. Though less imposing, they add to the rich tapestry of Mayan history woven throughout Izamal.

✅ If you’re back in Valladolid on time, the main plaza the Parque Francisco Canton, offers a traditional Maya dancing demonstration at 5.30pm and an 8pm video mapping on the Templo de San Servacio.

Recommended tours

⭐️ Take a tour to Xkopek to learn about the sacred Mayan bees and taste their honey (1.5 hours)

⭐️ Chichén Itzá full day tour including time in 2 cenotes, buffet lunch and local guide

⭐️ Skip the line tickets to the famous Suytun cenotes (includes breakfast and use of a hotel pool)

Day 10 – 11 Ruta Puuc

Ruta Puuc means “hilltop route” in Mayan and the ‘hilly’ Puuc archaeological sites are known for their intricate facades adorned with geometric fretwork and masks. This is where you will find archaeological sites such as Uxmal with its iconic Governor’s Palace and Kabah with its Palace of Masks.

The Ruta Puuc offers a unique glimpse into a lesser-known era of Mayan civilization and is about three and a half hours from Valladolid, with lots to do along the way.

MexicoCassie hotel recommendations

Day 10 – Drive to the Ruta Puuc

You have options as you move onto the next exciting region of your Yucatán adventure.

Option 1 – Drive directly to Uxmal

Drive all the way to Uxmal (3 hrs plus stop for lunch at the excellent Finca Puuc in Muna) and visit the Chocolate Museum or Uxmal ruin, leaving time for more ruins on day 11 (see below for information).

Option 2 – Drive via Mayapan or a cenote

⚠️ Only when Mayapan is open. In Dec 2025 it remains closed to the public.

Mayapán is a large Maya archaeological site, on the way to Ruta Puuc, where you will find another, smaller, Temple of Kukulkan. It was the last major Maya capital before the Spanish invasion. In this fascinating walled city, once home to 12,000 residents, you will find ancient murals and stuccos.

⭐️ There are great cenote options in this area including Yaal Utzil, Telchacillo, Noh-Mozon

Day 11 – Archaeological sites and / or caves

Option 1 – Uxmal and the Choco-Story

✅ The Uxmal archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has become extremely popular with visitors to Yucatán in recent years. This site is home to the Pyramid of the Magician, which is built in the unusual Puuc style as well as many other gorgeous buildings.

The Choco-Story Museum is just across the road from Uxmal and is a really great place to spend a few hours learning about the history of chocolate

Option 2 – The other Ruta Puuc sites

Uxmal is just the first archaeological site in the Puuc region – and most visitors don’t make it past here. If you’re falling in love with the archaeological sites then don’t stop at Uxmal, continue on to explore the others: Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak and Labná.

Kabah: Kaba was inhabited for around 200 years between 750 – 950 CE and was an important city in the area. It’s the closest of all the Ruta Puuc sites to Uxmal and the site is split by the road. Be sure to visit both sides. It is thought there was also a sacbé (elevated road) between Kabah and Uxmal in one direction and Labná in the other.

 Sayil: My favourite of the Puuc sites. It is best known for its huge Palacio (apparently 85 m long) and its enormous expanse of grass in front.

 Xlapak: Xpalak means ‘old walls’ in Mayan. The architecture here is very typical of this region.

 Labná: Labná was a small population site dating from around 750 – 1000 CE.  It is a truly stunning place and well worth a visit. Labna was built in the purest Puuc style. In Mayan, Labna means ‘old house’.

Option 3 – Cave Adventures

If you’ve had enough of ruins, why not check out the Grutas de Calcehtok. This is a fascinating cave that has long been used for Maya spiritual purposes. The caves can only be visited with a guided tour.

Tour recommendations

⭐️ Skip the line Uxmal tickets with private guide option

⭐️ Vintage landrover expedition to explore sacred cenotes around Uxmal

Days 12 – 13 Progreso & the Emerald Coast

At the end of your road trip, what better way to relax than by visiting Progreso, on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. These quiet beaches are known for their gorgeous white sand and gentle green sea. There is excellent locally caught seafood, and there is even a small, but very interesting archaeological site nearby.

On the final day, you can head back to Mérida, for your last night for some interesting local cultural activities.

MexicoCassie recommended hotels

Day 12 – The road to Progreso

As you drive to the beach be sure to stop in Motul for the famous Yucatecan breakfast of huevos motuleños (a delicous egg dish served with salsa, plantain and tortillas)

✅ Take a boat tour or go kayaking on the estuary (ría) with the wonderful Sayachaltun Eco Tours.

✅ Visit Xcambo archaeological site. This is a small Maya complex containing a pyramid and other ancient ruins. It was once an important trading post. Next door are salt flats you can visit where Maya people have been making pink salt naturally for hundreds of years. If you’re lucky (you probably will be) you’ll also see flamingos around here.

Day 13 – Explore the coast and beautiful beaches

Option 1 – Progreso and Chicxulub

Progreso is the primary beach town in Yucatán so if you’re craving a busy malecon (promenade), tourist shops and beachside restaurants, this is where you’ll want to be.

✅ Don’t miss theMalecon Internacional – located on the far side of the world’s longest pier (yes, you read that right).

✅ Be sure to stop in next door Chicxulub because who can resist checking out the epicentre of the meteor that hit earth 66 million years ago wiping out most of life on earth?

✅ If you’re travelling with kids, you could check out the Sendero Jurasico (Jurassic Walk) just outside the village where you’ll find enormous replica dinosaurs.

Option 2 – Visit a beach club and relax

There are a number of beach clubs in the area: Marymar, Playa Bonita, Kokomo Beach Club, Tecnotel are just a few options along the coast.

Tour recommendations

⭐️ Take an ATV to explore an ghost town, swim in the blue lagoon and after relax at Silcer Beach Club

⭐️ Pre book your Silcer beach club spaces

Day 14 – Back to Mérida

✅ Wake up to watch the sunrise on the beach and either enjoy one last beach day or head back to Mérida for some last minute shopping fun.

✅ Why not hit up whichever museums you missed at the beginning of your road trip, take a traditional cooking class, explore the market area or just sit and enjoy the vibe on Paseo de Montejo.

✅ Spend the evening exploring the restaurant scene on Mérida’s new gastronomic corridor (it sounds better in Spanish – Corredor Gastrónomico) on Calle 47 and enjoying the free cultural activities hosted by the city.